Many intelligent people find themselves overweight and battling the bulge. You are aware of all the facts — that being overweight can shorten life expectancy and lead to health problems — so it is worth looking at the roots of the problem.

For some people, they have had the problem since childhood and they see food as a comfort and eat for emotional consolation. For some, excess weight may be caused by stress. Frequently eating problems can start with a death in the family that has not been sufficiently mourned. It can be that your needs are not being met and you need to learn to ask for what you want. People who eat due to stress need to deal with the cause of the stress. For women, it may be that once they have children they forget to prioritize their own needs. They are so busy taking care of everyone in the family that they neglect themselves. Suddenly they find themselves wearing clothes that hide their ungainly shape. A mother must always take care of herself and her needs - then she will have more positive energy to give to her family. She must also expect respect from her husband. Your needs are just as important as his are and he must not take you for granted.

It is very easy to see a diet as a quick fix, but ask yourself what usually happens at the end of a diet? There is the temptation to celebrate successful weight loss with a slap-up meal (after all, you deserve it), but slowly but surely you return to your old bad habits: too much food and too little exercise.

Recipe of the Week

Watermelon Sherbet

Serves 8 (1/2-cup) servings

Ingredients

2 cups watermelon, cubed and seeded

1/2 cup sugar

1 envelope gelatin, unflavored

1/3 cup cranberry juice cocktail

Method

Place watermelon in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Stir in sugar. In a small saucepan, combine gelatin and cranberry juice. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir mixture over low heat until gelatin is dissolved. Pour and stir the gelatin mixture into the melon mixture. Pour into an 8x8x2-inch baking pan. Cover and freeze for two hours or until firm. Break up frozen mixture and place in a chilled mixer bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed or until mixture is fluffy. Return to pan. Cover and freeze for 6 hours or until firm.

Ask Alva:

As a man I am concerned about my face. It is very dull. When I wash it with plenty of water and creamy soap, it looks very fresh in the mirror. It gives shining look and youthfulness. But after a while it starts becoming dull. Can you suggest something that could help me brighten up my face and life?

— Rafaqat

Darker skin can easily become dull and grey looking if it is not taken care of. This is what you need to do: Every morning and evening, wash your face with mild soap and pat it with fresh cold water. Use a moisturizing sun protector on your skin to prevent the sun from darkening it. It will also reduce the drying effect of sun and air conditioning. Do this every day and you will notice that your skin looks better and will naturally become lighter over a period of time. Go for a sunscreen with a SPF of 30 within your price range. Twice weekly exfoliate to prevent dry flaky skin from building up and giving your skin a gray look. There is an excellent supplement called Permea Plus. It is full of vitamins and minerals and is very good for both skin and hair. I use it myself every day to retain a youthful complexion. Keep to this routine and drink plenty of water. Help yourself by sending off for my Healthy Eating Guide — just email to [email protected].

— Alva